PULLMAN, Wash. — After more than 40 years of service to the Pullman community, Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston has announced his retirement.
Heston plans to retire after 42 years of fire service in the community, according to a press release from the city of Pullman. In addition to being the City of Pullman Fire Chief, he also serves as the Emergency Manager for the City of Pullman, Chairman of the Whitman County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and member of the Northwest Interagency Incident Management Type 2 Team .
“It has been an honor to work with Chief Heston for over 20 years,” said Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin. “He has distinguished himself through thoughtful leadership, service as a first responder, and genuine concern for our community. We are grateful for his contributions to the City of Pullman.”
Heston began his career as a firefighter in 1981 with Grant County Fire District 5 in Moses Lake. He moved to Washington State University in the fall of 1983 and joined the WSU Fire Department as a student resident, transitioning to full-time training chief in 1985. , he held the position for 11 years.
He then joined the Pullman Fire Department in 1996 as Deputy Fire Chief, a position he held until 2013 when he was appointed fire chief.
“I love Pullman and the college town feel,” Fire Chief Heston said. “I had a lot of opportunities to go work elsewhere, but I never wanted to jump ship and go anywhere else. My children were born and raised here, and this is where I raised my family. It’s a great place to grow, and I look forward to continuing to engage with the community as we move into our next chapter.”
After retiring, Heston said he plans to continue serving on the All Hazard Incident Management Team and volunteering as a Scouting America district chair and an active member of the Lions Club. He also enjoys woodworking, bass fishing, boating, traveling with his wife Debra, and spending uninterrupted time with family and friends.
